Its oh-fish-ial, free fishing clinics are now available biweekly at Kaufman Lake for the rest of the summer. This oppor-tuna-ty is thanks to the Champaign Park District and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The clinics are open to all ages with equipment and bait provided to participants. Children are allowed to participate, however they must be accompanied by an adult.

Each fintastic clinic will consist of an educational introduction as well as a hands-on portion held at the dock. 

The clinics will occur at 2702 West Springfield Ave., Champaign. on Tuesday mornings from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Thursday afternoons from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The last clinic offered this summer is September 26, 2024. 

Although the clinics are free, registration is required prior to the clinic. 

fabbott2@dailyillini.com

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DI: What’s your relation to the encampment? Are you a student here? 

Grosof: I’m a postdoc. I’m in the Electrical & Computer Engineering department, and I’ve been at the encampment a good amount. During the nights, during the days, at the teach-ins, just all the different elements of it.

DI: Why do you believe that it’s important to have these encampments at universities? 

Grosof: I think it’s really easy to hear about people dying or injuries or buildings being destroyed and just be like “It’s just a story, that’s not real.” And when you see, oh, this is a bunch of tents. This is a tiny fraction of what people are going through right now, and then you’ve got a place where people can find out more about it. People can find common cause, I think that’s really important. 

DI: How do you feel about the way the administration has reacted to the encampment here at the University of Illinois? 

Grosof: I think the administration has really reacted very negatively and not in a way consistent with their stated policies on things, like the initial tent removal. On Friday morning, I wasn’t there for that, but looking into it, I don’t think that was warranted or ethical the way they handled things. Then to enter later negotiations, it doesn’t remotely feel like they’ve been negotiating in good faith. It just feels so wrong. 

DI: You said that you are Jewish. Can you talk about different perspectives held by Jewish people on this campus?

Grosof: I’ve been seeing a lot of people, especially Jewish people, making claims like, “having an encampment like this is antisemitic or makes all Jewish people feel scared of things like that.” I just think that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I’ve been spending a hell of a lot of time in the encampment, and there’s a very, very firm separation between Jewish people as a group of people and these actions of the Israeli military as a state using force, and they’re not remotely the same thing. So that was part of why I wanted to talk to The DI was to say, you know, people are presenting a perspective as if it’s universal and it’s not universal. And also, there are a lot of important Jewish teachings about freedom from oppression. Jewish people have been oppressed a lot of times over from the Torah days to the Roman days to the medieval days to the 1800s to World War II to a lot of different points of history, right? And what we’re supposed to do is not forget it, not forget when we were oppressed, and have solidarity with people who are oppressed now. But I think a lot of people, they remember when we were oppressed and think we must be the ones who are being oppressed now. But nobody’s dropping bombs on my house. I don’t have to flee for my life. I’m not being denied food and water and all this stuff. And I know who is — it’s people in Gaza and there’s no ethical reason to be doing that

DI: How do you feel about the Jewish pride events that have happened the last few days? There was one near Alma Mater yesterday.

Grosof: We had a Seder at the encampment on Sunday. I was one of the people speaking at it. I didn’t organize it, but, you know, I was participating in it. I guess what I’m saying is I think Jewish pride is important and it doesn’t have to look like Jewish supremacy, which is, I think, more what you see in the rhetoric of the Israeli Government recently, especially the Netanyahu government specifically. So yeah, there’s a difference.

DI: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Grosof: I’m also queer, and I’ve been treated as an abnormal danger. A lot of that rhetoric is aimed at trans people, and it gets easier to recognize what it’s like to be described as dangerous when you’ve never done anything. And when you see that with other people — solidarity is the same idea. 

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Thursday night, singer-songwriter Peter McPoland continued his “That Midwest Sound!” tour with a stop at Foellinger Auditorium. 

The show was put on by Star Course, a University of Illinois student-led concert promotion and production organization. The organization allows students to gain experience in many aspects of concert production and promotion such as ad design, marketing, ticket sales, security, ushering and management. 

McPoland’s set was preceded by a 20-minute opening set performed by the local band Haunted x Humans. During their set, the group energized the audience by encouraging them to stand, jump and clap to their music. 

At 8:55 p.m., McPoland and his band took the stage. McPoland, clad in an oversized sweater, a harmonica and a guitar, immediately set a carefree and casual tone for the show.

“A round of applause for what I’ve come to know as the greatest crowd in the greatest state in the greatest country in the world, Illinois!” McPoland said before opening his set. His introductory message elicited thunderous applause and ample cheering from the crowd.

McPoland opened his set with “Mold,” the first track on his 2023 album, “Piggy.” The crowd swayed with the beat and cheered during the song, despite the slower tempo.

Abruptly switching the mood, McPoland performed “Were You There?” from the same album. This song brought a new energy to the crowd and as McPoland danced around the stage, the crowd sang and jumped along with him.

“I liked his little dance moves he did,” said Makaley Mikrut, an audience member. “He was dancing on that stage.”

After performing “Were You There?” McPoland talked about his experience with education and how he always dreamt of performing at a college.

McPoland walked across the stage in a graduation ceremony manner and saluted the audience as they applauded and cheered.

“I have fulfilled my dream of playing a f—— college show,” McPoland said as he connected his anecdote with the audience. His exclamation was met with rambunctious applause.

Throughout the show, McPoland made it very clear that he was creating a comfortable and casual atmosphere with the use of frequent profanity, conversations with the crowd in between songs as well as laughing at his own mistakes. 

At one point during the set, McPoland started to play the first chorus of “Shit Show,” but instead of singing the first verse he called on the audience to help him out. The audience sang the entirety of the first verse alone, a true testament to his fan base.

McPoland’s performance was a blend of his soft indie-style music as well as his more energetic alternative-rock sound. This range had the audience headbanging during the energetic songs and swaying during the more mellow tracks.

Jenny Cheng, third-year graduate student, attended the show as a first-time concert-goer and spoke about how experiencing the crowd jumping was the most memorable moment of the show.

“I have never experienced that in my life,” Cheng said.

During his performance of “News at 9,” McPoland’s band left him to perform the song solo with just a singular spotlight shining on the singer and the piano. 

The silence from the audience and band made it feel as if everyone was holding their breath during McPoland’s emotionally charged performance.

Cecelia Ryan, junior in LAS, has seen McPoland perform four times, including his last performance in Chicago.

“He always makes me cry,” Ryan said.

This dynamic, emotion-packed show provided University students with an enriching opportunity for both the students involved with the production and students in the concert audience. 

“Oh, it’s just surreal to see a concert in this kind of facility with the price of tickets we paid,” Cheng said. “The University does great stuff for the students. It opens up the opportunity for us to see concerts like this.”

fabbott2@dailyillini.com

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The Bread Company, located on Goodwin Avenue in Urbana, boasts a cozy European atmosphere featuring delectable menu items from Swiss and European cuisine. 

This year, Best of CU voters determined that The Bread Company’s sandwiches are the finest offered in the Champaign-Urbana area. 

To add to its illustrious profile, these heavenly creations are only offered during its lunch hours, which occur Monday from 11:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. and Thursday through Friday from 11:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

The Bread Company offers a variety of cold sandwiches as well as grilled sandwiches to satisfy whatever customers are craving. 

Cold sandwiches include the traditional ham, prosciutto, egg and tuna salads, hummus sandwiches and more. All cold options are served with mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles.

If you’re looking for something warmer, look no further than the grilled sandwiches on the menu. With fantastic features like the salami sandwich with blue cheese and dijon aioli, pepperoncini peppers, tomatoes, onions and pickles, and other specialties like a Philly cheesesteak, it’s hard to go wrong.

Don’t eat meat? No worries. The Bread Company offers multiple vegetarian options.

The out-of-this-world sandwiches combined with the dim lighting and European decor create a calm and cozy environment for students to enjoy the time between classes and dine. 

fabbott2@dailyillini.com 

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To escape the hustle and bustle of life on a college campus, it’s essential to find a secret spot to decompress. 

This year, the steam tunnels have taken the cake for Best Secret Spot. Originally built to house the steam pipe system, the tunnels run underneath campus and connect many buildings. 

While the tunnels with active steam pipes are not accessible to the general public, the tunnels that connect Bevier Hall, Turner Hall and Edward Madigan Laboratory to the Institute for Genomic Biology, and the Roger Adams Laboratory to the Chemistry Annex and Noyes Laboratory are open to the public. The Chemistry Annex tunnel also features a stairwell in which people throughout the years have signed their names on the wall. 

Additionally, a tunnel that connects the Armory to Huff Hall is accessible for all University athletes. 

Information regarding the tunnels is not widely known, and therefore there is rarely a lot of foot traffic. During the colder months, the steam tunnels are a welcoming system that allows students to escape the cold while walking to their classes. The serenity and privacy of the tunnels provide a quiet place year-round for students to escape the chaos that is college life. 

fabbott2@dailyillini.com

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Coca-Cola, a brand that has changed very little over its history, recently released a new flavor that is said to join the cherry and vanilla flavors in becoming a permanent flavor option.

Coca-Cola Spiced hit the shelves on Feb. 19. In an interview with the Associated Press, Coca-Cola’s marketing chief revealed that the main reason for the release of Coca-Cola Spiced was to appeal to the new generation of consumers who gravitate toward spicier products.

In the past, Coca-Cola has released limited-edition flavors that increased the brand’s novelty. Such limited edition “Coca-Cola Creations” include Coca-Cola Starlight, Byte, Marshmello’s Limited Edition Coca-Cola, Dreamworld, Move, Ultimate, Y3000, Happy Tears and K-Wave. 

When it comes to the term “spicy,” a beverage is the last thing that comes to mind. The only confirmed flavor in Coca-Cola Spiced is raspberry — the rest of the spiced recipe is kept secret by the company.

The company describes the flavor as “blending the iconic taste of Coca‑Cola with a burst of refreshing notes from raspberry and spiced flavors,” which offers “an uplifting taste experience.”

Upon first sip, the raspberry flavor profile is very forward. Quickly following the raspberry is a second, more subtle flavor. The exact taste of the second flavor is difficult to describe but has a similar effect to cinnamon.

Overall, the “spice” seems to take on the theme of spices typically used with sweeter flavor profiles rather than tongue-tingling, sweat-inducing flavors. 

While Coca-Cola Spiced is a unique flavor, it won’t be the first flavor you’ll grab off the shelf. 

After several sips of the soda, the raspberry flavor becomes overpowering and overly sweet despite the company’s attempts to create a spicy flavor.

The effect of the sweet raspberry and confusing spice profile creates a sickeningly medicinal aftertaste.  

Compared to the classic cherry, vanilla and even the combination of the two, Coca-Cola Spiced ultimately falls flat of its promises, making it difficult to foresee a future where the flavor becomes a staple of the company. 

fabbott2@dailyillini.com

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The Station Theatre in Urbana is putting together a production of “Falsettos” set to run from March 21 to April 7. The theater originally planned to perform the show in 2020, but production was halted due to COVID-19.

The show is not the same as it was intended to be in 2020, as it now has a different production team, an altered cast and the addition of a full understudy cast.

“Kendell, who’s the director, has been wonderful to work with, and see his vision coming to life slowly from what his original vision was in 2020 to now,” said Melissa Goldman, who plays Dr. Charlotte. “It’s just been beautiful to see him blossom as a director and take on this project, a dream project of his.”

According to Owen Henderson, the understudy for Whizzer, the main cast will perform 75% of the shows while the understudy cast has a guaranteed performance of 25% of the shows. 

“This production’s a little bit interesting because we have two full casts and that’s not super typical, especially in community theater,” Henderson said. “We’re lucky that there’s so many talented people here.”

“Falsettos,” while maintaining bits of comedic relief, is a story rooted in complex themes of family, gender roles, the AIDS crisis and love. 

The story takes place in the ’80s and depicts the lives of a gay man named Marvin, his lover Whizzer and Marvin’s unknowing wife Trina, along with their extended family amid the AIDS crisis. 

Michael Steen, who plays Marvin, believes that it’s important to showcase heavier themes in the theater to encourage people to think about narratives and perspectives that aren’t necessarily their own.

“I think ‘Falsettos’ does a great deal of that,” Steen said. “It also delves into the AIDS crisis, which is a part of our history that is very poignant and sad. We really shouldn’t forget that and all that we lost.”

Similarly, Goldman said that musical theater is a more palatable experience in which audience members can soak up the complexities of life.

“I think that everyone should listen to a musical of some kind on a heavy subject or something to remind themselves that the human condition is real and that — though it’s through music — it can touch your soul in another way,” Goldman said.

Jaclyn Loewenstein, who plays Trina, thinks that the message and story of “Falsettos” will be more impactful on audiences who have now experienced COVID-19.

“I think this show will wash over people differently after all having lived through COVID,” Loewenstein said.

In addition to time devoted to rehearsals, actors took extra time to research their characters and learn about their situations to become more immersed in the story.

“I’ve done a lot of medical research of HIV and the AIDS epidemic, and all these podcasts and journals and books I’ve read just to get more informed about the real-life struggles and internal conflicts these people have gone through during that time,” Goldman said.

Loewenstein found her mother, who grew up in a similar time as Trina, to be a wealth of information in developing her character.

“It’s interesting to talk to my mom about what she remembers about the ’60s and ’70s and the constraints on women, women’s roles and expectations and the strong pressure to be married,” Loewenstein said. “That’s a big theme in this.”

The Station Theatre will be performing two benefit shows during its run of “Falsettos.” On opening night, half of the ticket sales will go toward the Greater Community AIDS Project of East Central Illinois. On March 31, half of the ticket sales will go toward the Champaign Urbana Jewish Federation.

Tickets for “Falsettos” are currently on sale and can be purchased on the Station Theatre’s website. 

“You’ve got the really funny moments,” Henderson said. “You’ve got the really touching moments. I think it’s really got something for everybody.”

fabbott2@dailyillini.com

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Rating: 6/10

After over 40 years since his untimely death, the story of Bob Marley’s rise to fame is told in the new film “Bob Marley: One Love,” which debuted in theaters on Feb. 14.

Before the movie began, an interview clip with one of Marley’s sons, Ziggy Marley, explained his involvement in the filming and production of the film to ensure that his father’s story was executed well. 

According to Ziggy Marley, the film’s goal was to introduce audiences to the personality and life of Marley while displaying the complexities of the icon’s life.

However, due to poor execution, “Bob Marley: One Love” fell flat on reaching that goal.  The plot was too convoluted, with different storylines making the film difficult to follow. 

The film began by displaying text that provided very minimal information about the tense Jamaican political climate which was occurring simultaneously with Marley’s rise to fame. The political conflict throughout Marley’s life was quite complicated, so the lack of context made the story too complex for the average viewer to fully grasp. 

To add to the confusion of the plot, the film used a lot of flashbacks to help explain Marley’s childhood and past, which were often abrupt and hard to understand.

The flashbacks were, in theory, supposed to help the audience get a better understanding of who Marley was before and during his peak. However, they ended up trying to accomplish too much, causing the moments to fall flat.

The first flashbacks attempted to give context to Marley’s childhood and his relationship with his father. However, they attempted to accomplish this by using metaphors and highly dramatic scenes, which were not able to tangibly depict Marley’s childhood. 

Another set of flashbacks showed Marley’s relationship with his wife but only briefly alluded to an affair Marley had. The affair caused tension in his marriage that added to the conflict in the film, which begs the question as to whether or not the audience truly got the full picture of Marley’s personal life. 

The third set of flashbacks made the most sense in the context of the plot, as they explained Bob Marley and the Wailers’ beginnings as recording artists. Since the screenplay was so heavily focused on the making of music and Marley’s world tour, these flowed best with the rest of the plot.

Despite the messy composition of the story, “Bob Marley: One Love” was still able to highlight the message of peace and unity that Marley stood for.

Kingsley Ben-Adir, who played Marley in the film, did an excellent job of replicating the singer’s mannerisms and energy. This helped the struggling plot at least remain accurate to Marley’s personality and his beliefs in peace. 

The end of the film, which used real footage of Marley, brought the movie full circle and emphasized the impact that Marley had on Jamaican politics and the culture that fosters unity.

fabbott2@dailyillini.com 

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Residence hall life is an iconic part of the college experience. Each University residence hall brings with it a set vibe, determined by location, LLCs, residents and more.

Wherever you choose to live on campus, The Daily Illini has curated a playlist to perfectly fit your residence hall’s vibe. Whether you’re a current residence hall resident or want a nostalgia trip back to your freshman year, sit back and listen to our song picks for each residence hall.

Allen/LAR

Welcome to Allen Hall and Lincoln Avenue Residence Halls, the residence halls notorious for not having any A/C during annual heat waves. 

Despite the poor ventilation and always broken laundry machines, Allen and LAR are the perfect living spaces if you’re looking for a quiet environment and flourishing living community. Allen is reputable for its large LGBTQ+ community and those who identify themselves as artists with creative minds. 

Both residence halls are conveniently connected by a “secret tunnel” that’s always fun to explore. There is also a shared dining hall that is notorious for its “Breakfast for Dinner” meals every Tuesday night. Listen to the Allen/LAR playlist for a sneak peek at what residence hall life could be like in two of campus’ hottest — literally — and oldest buildings!

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75mWMJouHawFmqo3mPk6A3?si=e97df7f988f94001 

Illinois Street Residence Halls

With newly renovated rooms, individual-use bathrooms, proximity to the Bardeen Quadrangle and direct access to the Illinois Street Dining Center, the rooms at ISR are highly sought after. 

Despite these amenities, ISR double rooms are relatively small and hallways are flooded with bright fluorescent lights at all hours of the day, which can make the residences feel sterile and uncomfortable. 

Additionally, ISR holds both the Honors and Innovation LLCs, which means many residents are high achieving and enrolled in advanced coursework which often leads to many assignments, lots of studying and stress.

ISR’s chaotic playlist matches the inner soundtrack of residents as they make their way through the school year. 

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/56QQK97VNOflB6x4i6evdw?si=ddff834a69ad454b 

FAR/PAR

Given their status as the most isolated and introverted residence halls on campus, FAR and PAR are admittedly not the most coveted housing options at the University of Illinois. 

Yet, the humble pair still have plenty to offer. Residents get convenient first access to bus routes and the close-knit community of the cultural and STEM LLCs, as well as views of tranquil nature spots like Illini Grove and the Arboretum. 

Just like the aroma of delectable stir-fry from the PAR dining hall masks any lingering smells wafting out of FAR’s communal bathrooms, let this playlist soothe the pain of having all of your classes be a 20-plus minute walk away. 

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0BCF6kQIQ75UBsiaGcKfJC?si=f4d04ebdc6db4627&pt=6e4985a53f245bc0845172bd3ce8e66a

Ikenberry North (Barton, Lundgren, Hopkins, Nugent, Wassaja, Weston)

While not boasting extensive amenities, the residence halls of Ikenberry North undeniably shape one’s college experience. Situated conveniently close to Ikenberry Dining Hall, students enjoy easy access to pasta bars, pizza, sandwiches and a variety of other options on a daily basis.

Ikenberry North offers a blend of spirited social hubs and silent study environments. When a residence hall falls silent, you can bet students are out immersing themselves in the University’s lively party culture or hitting the books with unwavering focus. 

Whether you’re wrapping up your Friday with a cozy night in or venturing out into the vibrant Greek life scene, this playlist is guaranteed to kickstart the weekend just as an Ike North resident would. 

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6H1DlHiTZPRTevpNeU22bL?si=6938125114a9453c 

Ikenberry South (Bousfield, Scott, Snyder, Taft-Van Doren)

The Ikenberry South region, containing the residence halls of Bousfield, Scott, Snyder and Taft-Van Doren, is a calmer alternative to the hustle and bustle of the northern area where the halls echo sounds of nightlife and social antics all throughout the week.

Ikenberry South provides its residents with an opportunity to fill their lives with sports, whether through utilizing the various facilities of the ARC and the Six Pack or in the stands cheering on the Illini at Memorial Stadium or the State Farm Center.

The following playlist embodies the soundscape of Ike South from the excitement of the fall semester to the calmer and seemingly more difficult spring semester. Sounds of sports, calmness and excitement are enclosed within.

Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1P3orGqqiW0bk1Pxx5k7cz?si=69a6c86c1ab54cbc 

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DJ duo TWINSICK performed an energizing and intoxicating set Friday night at The Canopy Club. 

Formed in 2019 by Alex Ingalls and Casey Schneider, TWINSICK has amassed a following of nearly 300,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, where the duo has millions of streams on popular remixes. 

Currently, Ingalls and Schneider are on their “Hard Launch Tour.” Luckily for Champaign-Urbana, The Canopy Club was the pair’s second of 13 scheduled stops before their Saturday show in Chicago. 

Rachel Wu, senior in Business, spoke about what drew her to TWINSICK’s event.

“I think it’s just a good time to hang out with friends,” Wu said. “I want to maximize the amount of time I can spend with them, and I’m just in for a really good night.”

Similarly, Kayli Hilliard, senior in LAS, had little knowledge of TWINSICK or their art but attended as a way to bond with her friends. 

“A lot of people are very interested in this artist’s scene and everything, and I’m just excited to hang out with my friends,” Hilliard said.

While The Canopy Club event started at 9 p.m., TWINSICK didn’t take the stage until 11:30 p.m. Local DJs Vorborg and BKAYE played a set apiece to open the show, each lasting roughly 75 minutes. 

A few songs from Vorborg such as “Like A G6,” “Slut Me Out” and “Barbie World” got the crowd engaged in the music and the event. 

BKAYE’s defining moment of his set was a mash-up of “Bulletproof” and “Low,” which the crowd sang loudly along with.

As the time got closer to 11:30 p.m., more people stumbled into the venue, and the pit in the theater filled up quickly. 

Derek Moran, a visitor to C-U, attended to not only enjoy the music but to observe the audience and their behaviors.

“I love being able to understand the younger generations and where they’re going and what they’re experiencing,” Moran said.

TWINSICK opened their set with a remix of “Titanium,” which caused the audience to excitedly rush into the pit.

TWINSICK’s lively spirit was evidently contagious, as the previously lackluster crowd transformed into a jumping and singing entity of people.

Right off the bat, Ingalls and Schneider set the energy level for the night by incorporating bright strobe lights and jumping off of the DJ stand. The lighting and loud music combined with the set’s visuals created an exhilarating experience that kept the audience’s senses engaged without overstimulating them.

Smoke machines accompanied the visual experience of the show, giving the room a hazy cloud that hung low over the crowd. 

TWINSICK kept the audience engaged during the entire set by playing popular hits like “Please Don’t Stop the Music,” “Low,” “Walking on a Dream” and more. 

At one point, an audience member started to dance on a counter along with the music.

Even The Canopy Club’s event staff were jumping and fist-pumping while walking around and cleaning up the trash.

The DJ duo was even able to expertly weave in slower songs like “Stick Season” and “Sweater Weather” while still managing to keep the audience singing and swaying along to the music.

The set demonstrated a thorough understanding of the audience and skillfully kept energy high during the entire performance.

fabbott2@dailyillini.com

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For those without significant others, Valentine’s Day can be a lonely holiday, and if that applies to you, The Daily Illini has your back. This Valentine’s Day, buy yourself some chocolate, grab a blanket and turn on the television. Here are the best three romantic comedies to distract yourself from loneliness and depression. 

“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” follows the story of Andie (Kate Hudson), a journalist who is writing a how-to on losing a guy in 10 days. At the same time, Ben (Matthew McConaughey), an advertising agent, bets an advertising campaign on the fact that he can make a woman fall in love with him in 10 days. 

Naturally, the two become each other’s targets and the movie follows their excruciating 10 days together.

“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” does an excellent job of keeping a balance between romance and comedy, something many movies in the genre struggle with. The plot was written to generate laughs while maintaining its position as a romance.

Additionally, the characters are relatable and easily likable. Andie feels professionally stuck as a journalist, only writing fluff when she desperately aspires to write heavy-hitting stories.

Ben seems like a typical, cold corporate advertiser but turns out to have a soft spot for his family, often spending quality time with them. 

These qualities in the two make them both easy to root for, leading to an immersive storyline that makes audience members feel like they have something at stake.

“13 Going on 30” is another important addition to the Valentine’s Day watch party. Jenna Rink (Jennifer Garner), a 13-year-old, is unhappy with her looks, love life and popularity. On her 13th birthday, she makes a wish to be 30, flirty and thriving. After her wish magically comes true, Jenna wakes up as a successful, 30-year-old magazine editor.

The magical elements of “13 Going on 30” break the movie out of the box for typical romantic comedies and make the plot unique.

This movie brings all of the nostalgic feels with its bright scrunchies, flip phones and endless ’90s business casual apparel. The fashion and settings provide an escape from social media and modern technology.

To add to the nostalgia, the magazine’s party is one of the most iconic romantic comedy scenes. Jenna’s swirled cutout dress is envied by many as the office dances to “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. The scene is composed so well it’ll make you want to jump up and dance along with the characters. 

Aside from “Thriller,” the movie has a killer soundtrack filled with hits to keep the audience engaged with songs like “Jessie’s Girl,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and “What I Like About You.”

To round out the cinematic experience, Garner’s acting job is phenomenal. Playing a child stuck in the body of an adult can’t be easy, but she makes it look that way. 

Jenna’s hesitance to swear, difficulty walking in heels and constant state of being overwhelmed by her new responsibilities bring a different level of realism to the movie. 

The sweet ending brings the story full circle and prompts the audience to reflect on the lessons learned while also feeling good about seeing the characters get the happy ending they deserve.

“Holidate” brings up the rear for the perfect triad of romantic comedies to watch on Valentine’s Day. 

Having just come out in 2020, “Holidate” incorporates modern settings, fashion and technology into creating a comedic love story. 

Sloane (Emma Roberts), is tired of her family pitying her for showing up to holiday gatherings alone, so she makes a deal with Jackson (Luke Bracey) to be her “holidate.” The two pretend to date only at holiday gatherings so Sloane can deceive her family. Naturally, there are a few hiccups along the way.

While the movie cycles through most major holidays such as Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter, the bookends of the movie are delivered at Christmas time, therefore giving the film a semi-Christmas theme. 

However, this certainly doesn’t mean that one can’t enjoy “Holidate” at any point of the year.  The plot lends itself to be funny, but the writers did an excellent job of adding jokes and comedic plot twists to keep the audience laughing. 

Ending with a public proclamation of love, “Holidate” checks off all of the boxes for a successful romantic comedy to enjoy this Valentine’s Day.

fabbott2@dailyillini.com

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The TV show “Gilmore Girls” follows Rory Gilmore and her mother Lorelai as Rory grows up.

In Season 4, Episode 2, titled “The Lorelais’ First Day at Yale,” Rory moves into her freshman residence hall at Yale University.

The most realistic part of the episode was Lorelai taking photos of every small event during move-in day. As the day is a large milestone for students and families, people often want to remember it through pictures.

However, that’s where the realism ends. The Gilmores’ chaotic move-in begins with them bringing their own mattress. Regulations for this depend on the school, but the University of Illinois does not allow students to bring their own mattresses.

Additionally, when Rory arrives in her residence hall, she has no idea what her suitemates’ names are. If getting a random roommate is terrifying, having no clue who you’re living with until move-in day is even worse.

Realistically, incoming students at the University are at least able to view their roommates’ names in the University Housing portal and even have the option to message their roommate through the website to coordinate furniture. 

When it comes to the room itself, the suite has not one but two fireplaces — students at Illinois aren’t even allowed to have candles due to fire hazards and regulations.

The suite is quite large, fitted with an open common room that stems off into a bathroom and three bedrooms. This luxury of living space would be found more commonly in apartments as opposed to freshman residence halls.

“Pitch Perfect” also attempts to illustrate what campus living is like but comes up short.

Beca is a freshman at Barden University, and the movie opens on her move-in day. 

At Barden, there is somehow an endless supply of university-employed movers, because every incoming student has their bags carried by an employee. An accurate representation of Illinois students lugging sled-like carts in and out of elevators at Ikenberry Commons is nowhere to be found.

One of the most iconic scenes from the movie is when Beca is singing in the communal showers and Chloe, the leader of an on-campus a capella group, pulls open the curtain dividing the two showers and makes Beca sing for her. 

For starters, most showers at the University have more than just a curtain dividing them from other showers. Nugent, Wassaja, Wardall and Townsend hall’s bathrooms are for individual use, and most halls with communal showers have walls separating them.

Secondly, even with only curtains dividing showers, it’s safe to say that most college students would not open the curtain to force another student to sing to them. 

A realistic aspect of “Pitch Perfect” is Beca’s relationship with her roommate, Kimmy Jin. Movies often show roommates as becoming best friends, but as anyone who has experienced college knows, this is not always the case. 

Beca and Kimmy have a somewhat strained relationship and are rarely seen communicating with each other. Many college students can relate to this, since living in tight quarters with someone you might not have much in common with is not always beneficial to the relationship.

“Accepted” is a movie that follows Bartleby Gaines, who creates a fake college after being rejected from the other schools he applied to.

Naturally, the movie isn’t the most realistic depiction of college life. However, despite the college being transformed from a psychiatric hospital into a college by a handful of 18-year-olds, the school is meant to look like a traditional building for college students as portrayed by movies.

With this in mind, the rooms are much larger than your typical college residence hall. Bartleby’s room comfortably fits his bed, a table with three chairs and a desk. 

Most University residence halls can barely accommodate a bed and a desk, let alone reasonable living space for two or more people.

One of the scenes in the movie shows two “students” breaking through a wall with a sledgehammer to increase the size of their room. Despite students’ frustrations with small living spaces, most don’t take to the sledgehammer to solve the problem. 

If students lived in residence halls according to popular culture expectations, they would be enjoying large rooms complete with fireplaces and plentiful furniture — and living in fear of being forced to sing in the communal showers.

fabbott2@dailyillini.com

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On Saturday, The Canopy Club hosted a “Best Day Ever” night, paying tribute to late hip-hop artist Mac Miller. The rapper and songwriter would have celebrated his 32nd birthday on Jan. 19.

The audience came out to hear Miller’s greatest hits while also supporting local youth, as a portion of the night’s ticket sales were donated to youth music programs across the area. 

While doors opened at 8 p.m. and music began at 9 p.m., most of the crowd trickled into the club around 9:30 p.m.

DJ F.O.H. opened the night with Miller’s track “BDE.” Despite the song being the event’s namesake, people were still standing toward the back of the club and chatting, with very few crowd members swaying to the music.

After the first two songs, F.O.H. addressed the crowd by saying “Hey Canopy, what the f— is going on?” and then requested people move up toward the front of the club, which they did.

As the night went on, more people trickled in, and the crowd started singing and dancing more. 

The club boasted a casual atmosphere where people could come enjoy music, alcohol and company.

The Canopy Big Room held a stand for nuEra Dispensary as well as a bar. 

Overall, there was a variety of clothing worn by the crowd with people wearing anything from sports jerseys to actual Mac Miller merchandise.

Throughout the night, F.O.H. played songs like “Therapy,” “Ladders” and “Oy Vey.” Most of the crowd enjoyed the music by standing, swaying and occasionally singing along. However, during the beat drop of “Self Care,” the crowd started jumping to the beat and waving their hands.

As the night continued, the audience danced more freely with even some of the event staff joining in. F.O.H. utilized the strobe lighting as well as videos projected on stage to add some effect to the event.

Most of the videos were unrelated to the music, with some being a slow pan of a mountainside and others being abstract shapes and psychedelic patterns moving to the beat.

However, to introduce the song “Happy Birthday,” F.O.H. played a video from the BET Hip Hop Awards in 2018 in which Anderson .Paak gave a short speech on Miller’s influence after his untimely death in 2018. 

During a few other songs, F.O.H. played the music video in the background, creating a more immersive experience. “Colors and Shapes” had a unique music video with an animated video of a puppy exploring a dream-like world. 

Around 11:30 p.m., F.O.H. took a break off the stage by playing part of Miller’s NPR Tiny Desk Concert video. The crowd cheered after each song in the video, the loudest being at the end of the last song as if Miller was performing live. 

fabbott2@dailyillini.com

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“Mean Girls,” a new take on an old classic, hit the big screen on Jan. 12. The new film was a movie adaptation of the 2018 Broadway musical “Mean Girls,” which was adapted from the 2004 original movie of the same title.  

The opening musical number sets the stage for the story by introducing the narrators, Janis (Auli’i Cravalho) and Damian (Jaquel Spivey), who sing “Cautionary Tale” in their garage. They then open their garage door — in a very musical-theater transition — to Kenya, where the audience is introduced to Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) as she sings “What Ifs.” 

The adaptation expertly conveyed its musical origins through scene changes such as this one. Instead of normal cuts used in movies, “Mean Girls” employed scene changes that felt pulled from the theater world.

While there were many changes through the film and musical adaptations, the basic plot emerged untouched. Homeschooled Cady feels lost when thrown into a typical American high school after growing up in Kenya. 

Due to her naivety and a little urging from her new friends, Cady falls in with the “Plastics,” who are led by Regina George (Reneé Rapp). 

Cady hatches a plan to take Regina down to win over her crush. She executes her plan a little too well and replaces Regina as the head mean girl of Northshore High as chaos ensues. 

Each actor fit their character perfectly, which helped the adaptation stay true to the original. 

Rapp, who portrayed Regina on Broadway at 19 years old, stood out among the actors by creating a complexity in the character that was otherwise lacking in the original film. 

Rapp’s line delivery shows the audience how cunning and calculating Regina’s character is, emphasizing that she is not as dumb as most people believe. 

Along with adding to character development, 2024’s “Mean Girls” saw the opportunity to combine the depth of the musical elements from Broadway with the cinematic possibilities of being a film. 

The lighting and shots were incredible and elevated the story. Musical numbers such as “Someone Gets Hurt” were made especially breathtaking due to dramatic lighting, which continued the motif of being a musical while emphasizing each character and the tone of the musical numbers.

While the lighting and cinematography added an element unable to be used in the Broadway musical, the movie could have taken its depth to the next level if the music had remained similar to its original rendition. 

The movie cut several songs, including “It Roars,” “Fearless,” “Stop,” “Whose House is This?,” “More Is Better,” “Do This Thing” and, most notably, “Where Do You Belong?.”

In addition to the songs that were cut, various lyrics were changed and parts were removed from the remaining songs.

“Meet the Plastics” was originally a song with verses from all three Plastics: Regina, Gretchen and Karen. The song introduced each of their characters and hinted at their complexities, which were addressed later in the plot.

However, the movie adaptation cut both Gretchen and Karen’s verses, which led to their characters lacking the layers the Broadway musical emphasized. 

The biggest letdown with the music was the alteration of the background instrumentals. Each song was changed to have a more synthy pop background, whereas the Broadway soundtrack featured a strong electric bass and driving drum beats.

These changes made each song feel flat, which was a shame considering the cast’s stunning vocals.

Vocal changes were incredibly apparent in Rapp’s feature “World Burn.” The Broadway version of the song builds through each verse and peaks with a strong bridge that encapsulates Regina’s rage. 

However, the movie version’s background instrumentals sound toned down, which highlights Rapp’s powerful vocals but unfortunately misses the mark on taking the musical to the next level.

Additionally, “Stupid with Love,” which depicts Cady lusting over crush Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney) was altered to the point of changing the song’s mood. The Broadway version had a lot more pep and emotion, whereas the movie version was significantly slowed down, lacking the energy that conveyed Cady’s intense feelings.

The dramatic cinematography and lighting of “Mean Girls” did its best to make up for what the soundtrack lacked. However, the film disappointingly missed an opportunity to add depth to an iconic franchise.

fabbott2@dailyillini.com

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Aside from Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts’s staples, the Champaign-Urbana area has some great local coffee shops and cafés with beverages to keep you warm throughout the winter.

To start out strong, try the hot apple pie cider from BrewLab, located at 630 S. Fifth St. 

Available in both 12-ounce and 16-ounce sizes, the very first sip tastes just like eating the warm filling of an apple pie. The apple flavor is very prominent, warming you from the inside out. 

In addition to the hot apple pie cider, BrewLab offers an oatmeal cookie latte, creme brûlée matcha, chai lattes, hot chocolate and other festive drinks. You can’t go wrong with BrewLab.

Moving on to downtown Champaign, Café Kopi, located at 109 N. Walnut St., features an expansive menu including americanos, cappuccinos, lattes, hot teas and more. 

Before even ordering, customers immediately feel warm and fuzzy due to the cozy atmosphere of the café. The lighting is soft and the walls are filled with artwork from a variety of artists. Tables next to a wall are adorned with unique lamps that add to the eclectic decor. 

Café Kopi’s peppermint hot tea comes in at an extremely high temperature, so much so that I had trouble carrying it back to my table due to the heat. After taking the lid off, it still took several minutes for the tea to cool to a drinkable temperature.

The peppermint flavor was much more subtle than I thought it would be, especially since the aroma was so strong. Peppermint is a temperamental flavor since too much ends up tasting like toothpaste, so I was thankful that this tea did not cross that line.

Opposed to other warm drinks with cream and thicker ingredients, this tea was very light. This is a good option for someone who wants to warm up but does not want to feel weighed down by their beverage.

Caffé Bene did not disappoint with its warm beverages. The café’s winter menu includes peppermint mochas, hot chocolate, caramel gingerbread lattes and Earl Grey milk tea. The regular menu offers hot and iced teas, bubble tea, gelato, espresso, lattes and more throughout the year. 

The service was very quick and friendly. The Urbana location, located at 700 S. Gregory St., provided a very cozy environment with wooden ceilings and furniture. The two street-facing walls are filled with windows which let in natural light and allow for excellent people watching. 

Caffé Bene’s hot chocolate with peppermint was topped with a whipped topping that tasted like marshmallows. This filled me with a sense of nostalgia as I remembered the hot chocolates of my childhood. 

The hot chocolate itself was very creamy and flavorful. Caffé Bene took a typical — and somewhat boring — warm drink and elevated it. 

However, I was a bit disappointed with the peppermint aspect of the hot chocolate. I could hardly taste the peppermint since the marshmallow flavoring overwhelmed almost everything else. 

This beverage checks all the boxes for a classic hot chocolate but falls short of its peppermint promise.

The C-U area is filled to the brim with possibilities to help you stay warm this winter as well as cozy cafés to study, catch up with friends or just find peace. 

fabbott2@dailyillini.com

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Gasteyer’s show was a combination of a performance of her 2020 Christmas album “Sugar and Booze” and a classic comedy show.

In between almost every song performed, Gasteyer performed a short interlude of a stand-up comedy routine.

Gasteyer and her band engaged the audience by asking questions and having amusingly casual conversations on stage, and even handing out shots of Fireball to audience members wearing Christmas sweaters.

Despite these engaging moments, there were times when the comedy parts of the show seemed to drag on for a little too long. Gasteyer really only engaged with the percussionist in her band, Julian Fleisher, so the band ended up just sitting while they talked.

At one point, Gasteyer told a long story about Christmas cards and the band started taking shots of Fireball.

Additionally, the dynamic between Fleisher and Gasteyer got slightly awkward at times, with one talking over the other trying to get a joke going. 

It felt as if the stories and jokes may have been time-fillers that fell flat with the audience.

Aside from the stand-up sets, Gasteyer brought comedy to the performance of her album. 

She added interludes to the songs that generated laughter from the audience. Gasteyer also forgot the lyrics to several songs and had to look at them. It was hard to discern whether or not this was done on purpose for the sake of comedy.

Gasteyer and her band opened with “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm” and worked their way through the rest of the album. 

“Sugar and Booze” is a jazzy Christmas album filled with original Christmas songs as well as new takes on old classics. 

During the performance, Gasteyer talked about the difficulties of creating new Christmas music. This difficulty is evident by the countless covers of the same several Christmas songs that people have no choice but to listen to every December.

Despite having trouble creating original Christmas songs, Gasteyer created several new jazzy Christmas staples.

Gasteyer’s rich voice laid perfectly over the jazz band in the background, which gave the album a clean and smooth sound.

The title track “Sugar and Booze” is an exciting, jazzy rendition describing the best parts of the holiday season. The background instrumentals perfectly capture the joy of the season which makes the song a perfect original song to add to old and tired Christmas playlists.

Another unique track on the album was “In the Market for a Miracle,” which tells a toe-tapping story of being Jewish during the holidays. The moving bass line makes this track the stereotypical jazz song that is guaranteed to get toes tapping and heads nodding to the beat. 

Another original Christmas song is “Blue Black Friday.” This mellow tune describes the complexity of emotions that are felt during the holiday season.

“Sometimes the holidays can feel like a real bummer,” Gasteyer said during the performance as an introduction to the song.

While this track is not a song that you would play while driving and looking at Christmas lights with loved ones, it is definitely a song you can curl up under a blanket next to a fireplace to listen to.

Gasteyer commented on how much she loved the Midwest and how she enjoyed playing at the KCPA. 

The audience reflected her enthusiasm by giving her a standing ovation at the end of her performance.

fabbott2@dailyillini.com

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The Champaign Urbana Ballet put on a Christmas classic, E. T. A. Hoffmann’s “The Nutcracker,” at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3. 

“The Nutcracker” is a heartwarming Christmas ballet involving many characters, settings and a complex plot.

The Stahlbaum family, including children Clara and Fritz, is hosting a party when the children’s godfather arrives with gifts for all of the children. He gifts Clara dancing dolls and gives Fritz a Nutcracker. 

Clara is fascinated by the Nutcracker and sneaks out late at night to play with him. However, as she falls asleep, the rats and mice led by the Rat Queen start to attack Clara. 

The Nutcracker comes to her rescue and takes her on a journey to his homeland where they visit with Lemonade Sprites, the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Dairy Queen and many more magical beings.

Many factors contribute to the magical storytelling such as the dance, lighting, set and acting of the dancers.

Overall, the dancing in the first act of the 6 p.m. showing on Dec. 3 felt unpolished. Often dancers were not together in the choreography and the audience’s eyes were drawn to the few dancers ever so slightly off the beat. 

Exceptions to the lack of cohesiveness were the Boy Doll (Leo Lewis), Girl Doll (Emma Rypka), Clara (Daisy Grace Lewis), the Nutcracker (Wes Shunk) and the Ice Fairies. 

These dancers were exceptional and were able to convey a wide range of emotions through their facial expressions, as well as dance.

Act II felt much more refined than Act I. The dances were more complex, yet they were well executed. 

Those that stood out were Sugar Plum Fairy (Grace Williams-Kim), Cavalier (Oscar Lewis), Arabian Princess (Ava Teague), Arabian Prince (Lorenzo Pantano), Rose Queen (Janie Lee) and the Rose Queen’s Escort (Kevin Burnside).

Aside from the actual dancing, the incredible set and costume led to complete immersion into the story. 

Projections were used at the beginning of the ballet to give the audience a sense of where the story was taking place. 

“The Nutcracker” includes scenes from many different fantastical places, like the Land of Snow and the Land of Sweets, and the sets did an excellent job of making each setting unique. 

During Act I, the battle between the rats and the Nutcracker takes place. The transition of the set from the party to the battle was breathtaking. 

As the walls of the home are lifted, snarling ribbons unroll from the bottoms that, once paired with dark lighting, make the stage into a frightening scene.

To add to the unsettling atmosphere, the costumes of the rats included rat heads with red glowing eyes. 

Another impressive set is in Act II when Clara and the Nutcracker visit the Land of Snow. 

There was a forest of snowy trees in the background, some of which had candelabras painted on to allude to the fact that this was all Clara’s dream. 

Additionally, there was a fog machine used, and the fog pooled on the ground to give the illusion of fresh snow that the snowflakes and ice fairies traipsed through.

In addition to the set, the costumes were exquisite. Every dancer’s outfit sparkled and shone in a unique way that added to the magic of the show.

The most impressive costume was the Dairy Queen’s dress. The Dairy Queen’s skirt was the roof to the barn she sat atop of. Out of the barn came a herd of cows performed by adorable young children.

Despite the imperfect dancing, the Champaign Urbana Ballet successfully created the Christmas magic that is “The Nutcracker.”

fabbot2@dailyillini.com

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**This article contains spoilers.**

“The Hunger Games” prequel “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” premiered on Nov. 17.

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” was adapted from Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name, which was released on May 19, 2020. 

“The Hunger Games” follows Katniss Everdeen in sparking a revolution against Panem’s ruling government, The Capitol, and its leader, President Coriolanus Snow. 

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” was a much-anticipated peek into the origin story of Snow (Tom Blyth).

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” takes place before and during the 10th annual Hunger Games, in which The Capitol experiments with different methods to keep audiences engaged in the games. 

They involve Capitol academy students as mentors to the district tributes and introduce a method of Capitol citizens betting on different tributes by giving them donations used for food and water.

Coriolanus Snow is assigned the female tribute from District 12, Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler).

Both the novel and the film showed the complexity of Snow’s character — however, as expected, the novel did a better job.

A novel can provide an inner monologue of the main character that is difficult to replicate in a film. Usually, the film can portray the entirety of the character without this constant inner thought; however, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” lacked the depth of Snow’s character that was created as a reader experienced the workings of his brain.

While the screenplay lacked Snow’s depth, Blyth’s acting worked at bridging the gap between the novel Snow and the film Snow.

One of the greatest showcases of Blyth’s ability to play a complex character is towards the end of the film where Coriolanus and Lucy Gray have escaped from District 12.

Coriolanus and Lucy Gray were involved in the murder of the District 12 mayor’s daughter as well as in rebel activity. However, everyone else involved was murdered, and only the two of them knew the full story and had the ability to go to the authorities to turn the other in. 

In this scene Blyth, portrays Snow’s want to maintain his relationship with Lucy Gray while also still having control over her. Blyth demonstrates Snow’s descent into madness through an impressive range of facial expressions.

Another impressive actor in this film was Hunter Schafer, who played Tigris, Snow’s cousin. Tigris was another complex character who was also present in the original “The Hunger Games” trilogy.

Schafer demonstrates both Tigris’ loyalty to her family ties as well as her hesitance to fully support the capital’s endeavors in the Hunger Games. 

This fits with Tigris’ character in “The Hunger Games” series, as she assists Katniss in an act of rebellion.

An added aspect of the film that was impossible to include in the novel was Zegler’s voice. Lucy Gray uses her skill of singing to earn the adoration of the viewers of the Hunger Games. She also uses her songs to portray her feelings and tell stories of her life.

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” shows the origins of the hauntingly iconic song “The Hanging Tree” which was first sung by Jennifer Lawrence in the original “The Hunger Games.” Zegler’s voice, with its refined sweetness, turns the song from a cry for rebellion to a story.

Zegler’s songs were sung at key points in the film, such as the reaping when Lucy Gray was selected as tribute, the first interview with the tributes and the moment she won the games. 

Finally, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” brought to life the powerful tale with its cinematography. 

Every scene had high visual interest, which kept the audience’s attention even during the quieter parts of the film. 

The very last scene was chill-inducing with a close-up of Snow. Snow stands determinedly facing the capitol as snow is seen falling behind him. The screen cuts to black as Donald Sutherland, who played Snow in “The Hunger Games,” delivers the final quote of the movie: “It’s the things we love most, that destroy us.”

fabbott2@dailyillini.com

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Gary Mullen & The Works, a Queen cover band, took on the State Farm Center for one night only on Friday.

Lead singer Gary Mullen is a lifelong fan of the British rock group and formed The Works as a tribute to them in 2002, according to the band’s website.

Since then, the band has toured the country performing their “One Night of Queen” concerts, which feature covers of iconic Queen songs.

Gary Mullen & The Works opened their two-hour set with “Tie Your Mother Down.”

After most songs on the set, Mullen gave short speeches and interacted with the audience.

After the opening tune, Mullen welcomed the audience and scolded latecomers.

“If you’ve come to sit on your ass, I suggest you go home right now,” Mullen said.

Mullen encouraged everyone to stand out of their seats and to dance around. The band’s frontman suggested that audience members take off their clothes.

Mullen followed his advice by taking his shirt off for “I Want to Break Free.”

Mullen was hardly ever seen standing still. During songs, he would jump around the stage much like Freddie Mercury would during performances. By impersonating Mercury’s mannerisms, Mullen took on the role of both singer and actor.

Mullen jumped all around the stage and the upper platform of the stage. At one point during the set, the singer did pushups on the drum stand.

Mullen then left the stage entirely and sang standing on empty seats next to the crowd. He ran up the aisles to the lower bowl section while high-fiving audience members.

Another engaging aspect of the performance was the lighting. Spotlights were used during solos and flashing strobe lights emphasized the rock ’n’ roll beat driving the songs. The lights were also played on the roof of the arena and the seats which brought the space together.

Bruce Bartling, a University alum, enjoyed the different engaging aspects of the performance.

“It was loud and it was energetic,” Bartling said. “And the lights were wonderful. He has a good voice. I’m not sure it’s a dead copy of Mercury, but it’s a really excellent voice.”

There was a 20-minute intermission around 45 minutes into the performance, during which audience members got up from their seats and chatted.

Towards the end of the performance, in one of Mullen’s speech interludes, he thanked Champaign for its energy.

“What you lack in number, you make up for in rock ’n’ roll,” Mullen said.

Tara McGraw, a Fighting Illini fan, said the performance was a fun experience as a lifelong fan of Queen.

“Oh, it was just fun because Queen came out when I was in high school,” McGraw said. “It was a big thing then and so it was just kind of fun to reminisce and dance a little bit and have fun with our friends.”

fabbott2@dailyillini.com

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The CU Jazz Festival celebrated community and jazz music by hosting a jazz brunch on Sunday. 

The brunch was held in a secluded area of Seven Saints restaurant in downtown Champaign from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Jenelle Orcherton, artistic director of the festival, organized the ninth annual CU Jazz Fest, including the Sunday morning jazz brunch. She said her intent was to connect the community to local musicians. 

“It’s part of an ongoing process to invigorate the jazz community, connect students and the community to the jazz musicians we have in town, and also bring in some exciting stuff,” Orcherton said. 

Alicia Trezise, a University alum, emphasized the importance of events like the jazz brunch on the community as well as an individual.

“It’s just super important,” Trezise said. “It’s great to build some community. It’s great to get out of your rhythm, but it’s also so important to be present and listen to local artists and support local talent.”

The space held seven tables as well as bar seating. Halloween decorations, like cobwebs on the chandeliers and orange and purple lighting, added to the festive atmosphere. 

“It’s a fun way to start your Sunday,” Orcherton said. “It’s nice and relaxed, good to have sort of an intimate experience.” 

The duo of guitarist Jose Gobbo and and bassist Max Beckman performed while people ate, chatted and listened to the music.

They played for almost the entire two hours of the event, only taking a 10-minute break at noon. 

For the most part, the duo played traditional jazz, but their set also included parts of songs by the Beatles as well as Katy Perry.

“When it’s trio or duo, I like to follow him,” Beckman said. “I call it ‘Follow the Madman’ because sometimes it will allow the freedom to go.” 

Naana Amonoo-Neizer, graduate student studying quantitative and qualitative methodology, measurement and evaluation, said that the music at the jazz brunch was more upbeat than the festival’s opening night.

In addition to the music, Seven Saints also provided food at the brunch. Audience members were able to choose three items out of a predetermined list of sandwiches, soups, salads, sides and sliders. There was also a choice between coffee, tea and a spiced apple cocktail.

Despite the variety of options, some audience members were disappointed by the type of food offered.

“Since it was a brunch, I was hoping there would be more breakfasty things, to be honest, but I love the tomato soup and the sweet potato fries,” Trezise said. “So I was happy.”

Amonoo-Neizer expressed similar feelings towards the food selection.

“It was advertised as a brunch,” Neizer said. “So we were kind of expecting to have some breakfast items on the menu.”

The sentiment that the jazz brunch allowed the Champaign-Urbana community to connect and discover local talent was shared by Beckman.

“Everyone was very attentive, there was a lot of people tuning in and got some eye contact and some vibes and it was just a positive community it seems like in Champaign,” Beckman said. 

fabbott2@dailyillini.com

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